Livestock feeding assembly

ABSTRACT

This assembly comprises a hopper and a manger being connected together by means of a frame, said hopper comprising means to control the dry feed quantity to be supplied, means to supply water to the manger being fitted to the frame. Characteristic of this assembly is the fact that the manger is divided into a central area for the dry feed, and two lateral areas for the water, said three areas being separated by two transversal partitions, said central area comprising a centrally located, raised portion with a stepped edge, at least the lowest step having a slightly concave section, each of the manger sides comprising a drain hole being arranged at a lower level as compared with the top edge of the transversal partitions. The means to control the dry feed quantity comprise a vertical pipe being held by an axial rod being associated to an external control.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] Livestock feeding assemblies particularly comprising thoseprovided for the feeding of pigs are already known which comprise ahopper from which the feed falls by gravity into a manger, the hopperand manger being connected together by means of a frame, means to supplywater to the manger being fitted to the frame, the hopper comprisingmeans to control the feed quantity to be supplied.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0002] It is the object of this invention to improve said livestockfeeding assemblies, said improvements concerning the manger, the feedcontrolling means and other accessories fitted to the frame.

[0003] Regarding the manger separate areas are delimited therein for thedry feed and for the water, the area being provided for the dry feedbeing so shaped that it facilitates its taking on the part of thelivestock. Characteristic for such a purpose is the fact that the mangeris divided into a central area for the dry feed, and two lateral areasfor the water, said three areas being separated by two transversalpartitions, the central area comprising a centrally located, raisedportion with a stepped edge, at least the lowest step having a slightlyconcave section, the manger sides being each provided with a drain holebeing arranged at a lower level as compared with the top edge of thetransversal partitions in order to thus prevent a direct passage ofwater from the sides to the center of the manger, it being thus left upto the animal itself to at will moisten the fry feed by shifting waterfrom the sides to the center.

[0004] Said manger made of plastics material has its top edge providedwith a metallic protector rim protecting said top edge against theactions of the animal.

[0005] The feed control means have been provided with a simpleconstruction assuring their easy and safe operation. It is for such apurpose characteristic for these means to comprise a vertical pipe beingarranged in a guided arrangement below the hopper and being held by anaxial rod associated to a control being arranged externally to thehopper, said rod being at its bottom end attached to said pipe by meansof a bushing with radial arms, whereas at its top end said rod is linkedin a pin-jointed connection to a transversal holder being apt to beswung around a portion fitted to a transversal shaft of the externalcontrol allowing to vertically shift said pipe.

[0006] By way of important accessories fitted to the frame can be citedeach of both U-shaped guards being fitted to said frame in coincidencewith each of both lateral areas of the manger and in the same plane ofthe valve nozzles corresponding to the water supply means, said U-shapedguards protecting said valve nozzles against an accidental actuation onthe part of the livestock such as for example with the hooves. Alsosecured to the frame are a shielding shell surrounding the area wherethe hopper is facing the vertical pipe of the feed control means, and aclamp serving to guide said pipe.

[0007] These and other characteristics will be best made apparent by thefollowing detailed description whose understanding will be made easierby the accompanying three sheets of drawings showing a practicalembodiment cited only by way of an example not limiting the scope of thepresent invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008] In the drawings:

[0009]FIG. 1 illustrates in a sectional elevation the livestock feedingassembly;

[0010]FIG. 2 shows the manger in a plan-view;

[0011]FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing in detail the linkedconnection between the rod being attached to the vertical pipe and thetransversal shaft of the external control;

[0012]FIG. 4 shows in a plan-view the bushing with radial arms;

[0013]FIGS. 5 and 6 are perspective views of the shell being arrangedbetween the hopper and the vertical pipe, and the clamp guiding saidpipe, respectively; and

[0014]FIG. 7 is a perspective view of said livestock feeding assembly.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0015] According to the drawings this livestock feeding assembly beingparticularly provided for the feeding of pigs comprises a hopper 1 and amanger 2 being connected together by means of a frame 3.

[0016] The manger 2 is formed by one only piece of molded plasticsmaterial whose top edge is all around provided with a metallic protectorrim 4. Said manger is divided into a central area 5 being arranged at ahigher level as compared with two lateral areas 6 and 7 and beingprovided to receive the dry feed or fodder, whereas the other two areasare provided to receive the water, said three areas being separated bytwo transversal partitions 8 and 9, the central area 5 having acentrally located, raised portion 10 with a stepped edge 11, the loweststep comprising a slightly concave cross-section 12. Each of the mangersides 13 and 14 has a drain hole 15, 16 being arranged at a lower levelas compared with the top edge of said transversal partitions 8 and 9.

[0017] The means to control the quantity of dry feed to be supplied tothe manger 2 precisely on its central, raised portion 10 comprise avertical pipe 17 being guided by means of a clamp 18 being secured tothe frame 3 below the hopper 1, said vertical pipe 17 facing the openbottom 19 of said hopper and being held by means of an axial rod 20being associated to an external control 21. Said rod 20 is attached tothe lower portion of pipe 17 by means of a bushing 22 being secured tothe bottom end of the rod and having three radial arms 23 (FIG. 4) beingattached to the pipe by means of screws 24. At its top end rod 20 islinked in a pin-jointed connection and by means of a bolt 25 and nut 26(FIG. 3) to a horizontally arranged, U-shaped transversal holder 27being fitted to a transversal shaft 28 being integrally fitted to theexternal control 21 and rotatable with this latter, said shaft having asquare cross-section and being supported and guided at its ends in aflanged, rectangular channel 29 and in an external plate 30 having agenerally triangular shape whose upperly arranged, arcuate base has beenprovided in its vicinity with a number of bored holes 31 being apt toselectively retain the control 21, this latter being for such a purposeprovided with a projection being apt to be introduced into one of saidholes. Channel 29 is secured to a transversal flatbar 32 fitted to theinside of hopper 1.

[0018] In coincidence with each of the two lateral areas 6 and 7 of themanger a U-shaped guard 33, 34 is fitted to the frame 3 and is besidesarranged in the same plane of each of the valve nozzles 35 and 36corresponding to the water supply means and receiving said water throughpipes 37 and 38 being also fitted to said frame 3.

[0019] The area where the hopper 1 and the vertical pipe 17 are facingeach other is surrounded by a shielding shell 39 (FIG. 5) whose edgesare bent towards the inside at its openings 40, said shell being formedby two mutually joined halves being provided with orifices 41 serving tosecure them by means of bolts, rivets or other elements extendingthrough them to vertical spans 42 and 43 of the frame, said clamp 18also being secured to these latter by means of bolts and nuts for saidfastening cooperating with orifices 44 of the two diametrically opposedlugs 45 of said clamp.

[0020] This livestock feeding assembly has been provided with a cover 46fitted to the open top 47 of hopper 1, said cover having a wide opening46′ for manually charging the dry feed, said opening being apt to beclosed with a lid 48 being linked in a hinged connection to a support 49provided on cover 46 next to the edge of said opening 46′. Cover 46 isbesides provided with circular areas 50 and 51 having a stepped section,each of said circular areas when perforated allowing to obtain anopening of adequate diameter allowing to connect the ducts allowing tocarry out an automated dry feed or fodder supply.

1. A livestock feeding assembly comprising a hopper and a manger beingconnected together by means of a frame, the hopper comprising means tocontrol the dry feed quantity to be supplied, means to supply water tothe manger being fitted to the frame; characterized in that the mangeris divided into a central area for the dry feed, and two lateral areasfor the water, said three areas being separated by two transversalpartitions, the central area comprising a centrally located, raisedportion with a stepped edge, at least the lowest step having a slightlyconcave section, each of the manger sides comprising a drain hole beingarranged at a lower level as compared with the top edge of saidtransversal partitions.
 2. A livestock feeding assembly as per claim 1,characterized in that the means being provided to control the dry feedquantity comprise a vertical pipe being arranged in a guided arrangementbelow the hopper and being held by an axial rod being associated to acontrol being arranged externally to the hopper, said rod being at itsbottom end attached to said pipe by means of a bushing with radial arms,whereas at its top end said rod is linked in a pin-jointed connection toa transversal holder being apt to be swung around a portion fitted to atransversal shaft of the external control.
 3. A livestock feedingassembly as per claim 1, characterized in that in coincidence with eachof both lateral areas of the manger a U-shaped guard is fitted to theframe in the same plane of the valve nozzles corresponding to the watersupply means.
 4. A livestock feeding assembly as per claims 1 and 2,characterized in that the area where the hopper and the vertical pipeare facing each other is surrounded by a shielding shell being formed bytwo halves and secured to the frame, a clamp guiding said pipe beingalso secured to the frame.
 5. A livestock feeding assembly as per claim1, characterized in that the manger is formed by one only piece ofplastics material having its upper edge all around fitted with ametallic protector rim.